With the popularity of The Clay Pit restaurant downtown, Hindu celebrations occurring regularly at temples in Buda and Cedar Park alike, it's no surprise that a growing number of Austinites have a growing interest in visiting India. If you happen to be among these Austinities, chances are that you'll fly into New Delhi, India's capital, and chances are that your journey out of New Delhi will begin at New Delhi Railway Station (abbreviation: NDLS).
Be on high alert when you arrive there.

As your taxi cruises through the broad, modern boulevards surrounding the India Gate, Indian Parliament, and the cosmpolitan Ashok Road shopping district, be on the lookout for a shift--namely, a supercrowding of people on the sidewalks and in the road itself, a marked increase in trash on the ground, and noticeably older buildings. When you notice all of these things, you will have arrived at New Delhi Railway Station.

Make your way toward the entrance to the station, and do not talk to anyone. As you enter, make extremely sure that you heed this advice, or it could cost you literally hundreds of US Dollars. The most common scheme a "hustler" will try is claiming he is a non-uniformed railway employee, insisting that your tickets are "invalid". He will attempt to escort you across the street to the "National Tourism Office," which is about as "national" to India as the hot dog. Once there, you will be asked a series of a confusing questions, delayed to the point you miss your train journey, and most likely have left as your only option and expensive private taxi to whatever your destination may be--most often the Taj Mahal in Agra, more than five hours away, coming from New Delhi. This alternate journey will easily run you $150, not to mention the money you'll lose missing your train journey without properly canceling.

The key to avoiding this situation is to be firm with people you encounter at this train station. Do your very best not to make eye contact, and if someone speaks to you, say "I'm sorry, I'm not interested". Many "hustlers" will attempt to yell or raise their voices to assert authority; it is imperative that you keep walking and not acknowledge them. This is not rude--think of it as saying no to a door-to-door salesman, which is essentially what function these people perform. Simply enter into the train station, find your platform, and embark on the journey of a lifetime through one of the grandest countries in the world. Namaste!